From DCL to Carnival, what to expect?

[mevelandry]

Hi!

We have done one cruise on the Dream. We are booked on the Wonder for March... then on the Carnival Sunshine for October.

For those who tried both cruise lines, what small or major differences will I notice.

Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

No Mickey...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi!

We have done one cruise on the Dream. We are booked on the Wonder for March... then on the Carnival Sunshine for October.

For those who tried both cruise lines, what small or major differences will I notice.

Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

You'll find the rooms on Carnival smaller. While I can only address the one Carnival ship we've been on, I found the "feel" of the Carnival ship was more glitzy, Vegas-y. Lots of neon, and chrome.

The menus onboard - I wasn't impressed with the way the food was prepared - all meals that had any sort of sauce/gravy on them were watery and tasteless. I did find the food at the buffet more appealing, and in many cases more variety than what we've found on DCL.

I was super disappointed with the entertainment onboard Carnival. They only did 2 "production" type shows and while the first one wasn't bad (sort of a Vegas-style review about Motown), the second was so obviously a try at reproducing the first show it really was badly done. Hasbro-the game show was a bad TV-wannabe show.

 

[Meriweather]

Haven't been on Carnival......TA didn't even want to give me the booklet. I took that as my hint and haven't tried them. I may still, but not in a hurry

 

[moremouse]

IMHO ONLY... I'm glad I got to sail on two other lines before Disney. I would have been totally disappointed (and was). I've also sailed on another ship POST-Disney and I just can't take it.

I don't think it's even a "no Mickey" problem for me. I love the art-deco-y, themed, clean, crisp, superb service that DCL provides. I DO want to see a Disney production show, BUT if characters were not part of the deal I would totally still be a DCL'er. The entire experience to me is perfect. I don't think we've ever had "those servers" or "those stateroom attendants" that are unbelievable, but they still outshine the other services on the other ships (again, IMHO). We're not all about the food, but I don't think we've ever had a bad meal. We don't even have kids to sail with anymore. I enjoy watching everyone else's (well-behaved only ) children.

I hope you have a great time on another line (if you do), but.... I'll be thinking of you during the sail-away party.

 

[mcorbo]

You'll find the rooms on Carnival smaller. While I can only address the one Carnival ship we've been on, I found the "feel" of the Carnival ship was more glitzy, Vegas-y. Lots of neon, and chrome.

The menus onboard - I wasn't impressed with the way the food was prepared - all meals that had any sort of sauce/gravy on them were watery and tasteless. I did find the food at the buffet more appealing, and in many cases more variety than what we've found on DCL.

I was super disappointed with the entertainment onboard Carnival. They only did 2 "production" type shows and while the first one wasn't bad (sort of a Vegas-style review about Motown), the second was so obviously a try at reproducing the first show it really was badly done. Hasbro-the game show was a bad TV-wannabe show.

Hasbro isn't too bad if you get picked and win!

I got a bunch of hand held games and a $150 hasbro gift card!

 

[mcorbo]

Best bar on the high seas if the ship you go on has the Alchemy Bar, outrageous drinks and the bartenders can create anything you want, just give them a list of flavors you like.

 

[Skywalker]

Uh oh you mentioned another cruise line! Cue the doom and gloom! Most people here are not exactly impartial lol.

 

[Prose]

I have not yet sailed with Carnival, but had done a ton of reading to decide on our next cruise. Some of things I am noticing are:

If you have a fridge in your Carnival stateroom, it is likely pre-filled with "honor bar" type items. This may include alcohol. You can ask your host to remove them, but he or she will most likely stash them elsewhere in the room.

There is no free soda on board - water, tea and lemonade are offered free at meals. A soda package is available for purchase.

You cannot bring any bottled water or soda on board, only cans. There is a limit to how much wine you can bring per person.

There is no rotational dining - there is a main dining room, a buffet, other free food locations and upcharge food locations. Some of the main dining rooms have more than one floor.

No split bathrooms, no privacy curtain.

I'm sure there are more, but those are the ones that pop to mind.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Haven't been on Carnival......TA didn't even want to give me the booklet. I took that as my hint and haven't tried them. I may still, but not in a hurry

Perhaps the TA is more worried about receiving a higher commission from a more expensive DCL trip? I'm not accusing, I'm just pointing out a possibility.

Hi!

We have done one cruise on the Dream. We are booked on the Wonder for March... then on the Carnival Sunshine for October.

For those who tried both cruise lines, what small or major differences will I notice.

Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

I haven't been on CCL yet but am booked on the new Carnival Vista ship for a June, 2016 Mediterranean. I was quite worried for a time being about what to expect trying out a new cruise line. So I went to the dark side and starting reading about Carnival on Cruise Critic. It looks like there are some really cool things that CCL does that I'm looking forward to, including one morning of each cruise, the animals takeover the pool, meaning the room attendants make towel animals and put them on every chaise lounge in the pool area so when people start coming out in the morning there is a little critter sitting there to greet you. The pictures look really cool! I'm also looking forward to some of the non-fee specialty restaurants, Guy Fiori's Burger Joint, Blue Iguana Mexican food (I've read great things about their salsa bar, breakfast bar and fish tacos), and the Italian restaurant that has build your own pasta meal, with several different pastas, sauces, proteins and vegetable add ins at lunch. I'm sure there will be things that I miss about DCL, but I'm going in with a good attitude and hope I'm pleasantly surprised.

The only thing that sucks about it is there really isn't the wet T-shirt contests that you read about here.

 

[Meriweather]

Perhaps the TA is more worried about receiving a higher commission from a more expensive DCL trip? I'm not accusing, I'm just pointing out a possibility.

Not true at all. I have cruised on other cruise lines besides Disney.
And 2 different travel agents said that I probably wouldn't like Carnival......they will book them, just giving me their opinion.

 

[Happy100]

I have only sailed DCL but this February I will be taking my first Carnival cruise sans family and with friends. I am very curious about differences to be aware of as well. So that my expectations are appropriate. No matter what, I will have a great time because of my cruise mates. However I am truly hoping I really enjoy it since it costs a lot less.

BTW we booked suites so that the staterooms would be comparable to Disney's

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The only thing that sucks about it is there really isn't the wet T-shirt contests that you read about here.

But they did have the hairy chest contest on our cruise.

Another positive from our Carnival cruise - they had the best hamburgers I've had on any cruiseline.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Have sailed Carnival many times (but not as many times as DCL.)

There are some posters here whose hobby is to jump at the chance to rip Carnival to smithereens (some of whom have only 'heard,' about them, but never sailed.)

That said, Carnival has the best prices, and, IMHO goes to some really great ports in the Eastern Caribbean. Our family loved their private island, Half-Moon Cay. (Still prefer Castaway Cay though.)

We almost booked them for our summer cruise (can no longer afford DCL in the summer) but went with NCL instead.

Just tell yourself ahead of time, it's not going to be Disney. You'll most likely still have a good time. A cruise is what you make of it.

 

[mevelandry]

No Mickey...

I noticed just by looking at the price.

 

[mevelandry]

IMHO ONLY... I'm glad I got to sail on two other lines before Disney. I would have been totally disappointed (and was). I've also sailed on another ship POST-Disney and I just can't take it.

I don't think it's even a "no Mickey" problem for me. I love the art-deco-y, themed, clean, crisp, superb service that DCL provides. I DO want to see a Disney production show, BUT if characters were not part of the deal I would totally still be a DCL'er. The entire experience to me is perfect. I don't think we've ever had "those servers" or "those stateroom attendants" that are unbelievable, but they still outshine the other services on the other ships (again, IMHO). We're not all about the food, but I don't think we've ever had a bad meal. We don't even have kids to sail with anymore. I enjoy watching everyone else's (well-behaved only ) children.

I hope you have a great time on another line (if you do), but.... I'll be thinking of you during the sail-away party.

I skipped the Sail Away party... I've watched the "See you real soon" and it made me emotional but otherwise I try to avoid them.

 

[mevelandry]

I have not yet sailed with Carnival, but had done a ton of reading to decide on our next cruise. Some of things I am noticing are:

If you have a fridge in your Carnival stateroom, it is likely pre-filled with "honor bar" type items. This may include alcohol. You can ask your host to remove them, but he or she will most likely stash them elsewhere in the room.

There is no free soda on board - water, tea and lemonade are offered free at meals. A soda package is available for purchase.

You cannot bring any bottled water or soda on board, only cans. There is a limit to how much wine you can bring per person.

There is no rotational dining - there is a main dining room, a buffet, other free food locations and upcharge food locations. Some of the main dining rooms have more than one floor.

No split bathrooms, no privacy curtain.

I'm sure there are more, but those are the ones that pop to mind.

If there is not rotational dining, how do you know where to eat? Do you have assignments or you eat where you feel like eating? Do you have to book "upgraded dining in advance"?

I liked the soda package I have found on the website. It seems like they have more options than DCL.

We won't bring water or wine with us.

 

[angelinaxox]

I have been on six Carnival cruises but not on the Sunshine. I have always enjoyed the food on Carnival. Depending on the length of the cruise and the itinerary, it may have a more party atmosphere. On my two Carnival sailings to Canada (during summer months), the cruises were definitely family friendly and there wasn't much nightlife happening. When I was a teen, my family did a nine day Southern Caribbean itinerary that also was very family friendly. I loved these cruises.

I think as some others have said the big thing to remember is that you won't have the Disney touches such as the Disney characters, shows and souvenirs in the stores, so try not to compare and enjoy the things it does have. I have found the dining and cabin service to be equal to Disney.

Disney and Carnival have my two favorite desserts of any of the cruise lines I have traveled (Disney, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL, Princess, and Celebrity). On Disney, I always order Mickey ice cream bars and on Carnival, I always order the chocolate melting cake. If you like very chocolate desserts, I highly recommend.
Hope you have a great cruise!

 

[mevelandry]

Have sailed Carnival many times (but not as many times as DCL.)

There are some posters here whose hobby is to jump at the chance to rip Carnival to smithereens (some of whom have only 'heard,' about them, but never sailed.)

That said, Carnival has the best prices, and, IMHO goes to some really great ports in the Eastern Caribbean. Our family loved their private island, Half-Moon Cay. (Still prefer Castaway Cay though.)

We almost booked them for our summer cruise (can no longer afford DCL in the summer) but went with NCL instead.

Just tell yourself ahead of time, it's not going to be Disney. You'll most likely still have a good time. A cruise is what you make of it.

Thanks.

I think it's all about expectations. I am expecting a different experience... But I want to know what I am in for. It will help me plan my trip and "pimp my cruise" if I have to.

We are going to Bermuda (no stop to a private island but a 3 days stop at King's Wharf). DH and I have no kids.

I was expecting bad comments about Carnival. I take the most serious ones in consideration. I "filter" the rest of them.

I always loved WDW but I can still appreciate a trip in NYC and I find magic there as well.

I would --of course-- prefer to read about personal experiences.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

on Carnival, I always order the chocolate melting cake

I ordered the chocolate melting cake twice on our cruise. The first time it was very good. The second time, it wasn't quite done (too runny in the middle). The flavor was good, but the texture, not so much.

We did our Carnival cruise last minute. Glad we did it - I enjoyed it more than I expected to, but the quality of the Carnival ship just wasn't up to the quality of a Disney ship.